A young man with Down Syndrome leads visitors on a tour of the Colorado state capital building rotunda. A Native American tribe rallies around Christopher, a toddler with spina bifida.
These poignant stories, and others like them, earned top awards this past year for videos produced by Sonoma State University's Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program.
The films capture the ways communities and families rally around infants, toddlers and young adults with disabilities, to include them in everyday life. Staff from the program, which operates under the umbrella of the California Institute on Human Services at SSU, developed the concepts and scenarios for the videos.
"The early childhood staff are often fearful about if can they handle the responsibility of a disabled child," says Linda Brekken, director of the Hilton/Early Head Start program at SSU.
"With these videos, we empower them, we strengthen their skills, and increase their comfort level." The different videos also highlight how centers throughout the country handle similar challenges.
Brekken said the staff learns to understand the importance of parent involvement, that the parent is the best advocate for their child. "Parents also are trained to advocate for their child and family as well as for other families in their community."
The Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program produced a total of 20 videos as part of their training curriculum. They then presented them nationally to Early Head Start/Migrant and Seasonal Head Start staff, families of infants and toddlers with significant disabilities, and their community partners.
Awards went to:
* "Ted Polito, Jr.: An American Man" - Award of Excellence in the 2002 Videographers Awards: The story of Ted Polito, Jr, a tour guide in the rotunda of the Colorado State capitol building who has Down syndrome.
* "Christopher's Story" - Bronze Finalist Award in the 2002 Telly Awards and "Winner" award in Aegis Awards: Describes how a Native American tribal community and local agencies came together to create and support a program for Christopher and his family when he was born with spina bifida.
* "Marvin and Jack" - "Best of Show" Platinum Award in Aurora Awards: Tells tells the experiences and perspectives of two young men living with disabilities.
* "Spirit of the Quest" and "Creating Bright Futures" - "Winner" award in Aegis Awards: Brings forth messages about the importance of including infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families into Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs.
"Ted Polito, Jr.: An American Man" and "Christopher's Story" will be screened at the Moscow Disability Film Festival later this year.
